Cincinnati Fire Damage: Article About Odors In A Fire

Common fire damage term explained by Griffin Contracting and Restoration of Cincinnati OH:Synthetic odors

Synthetic odors are odors let off by plastic and other man-made materials during a fire. They can contain sulfur and other dangerous gases when released. These materials tend to be black in color when they settle back to the surface.

Cincinnati fire damage experts answers a commonly asked question:What should homeowners do when they see fire or smell smoke?

The best thing to do when smoke or fire is present is to get out of the house. Once everyone is out, it is then a good idea to call the fire department to put out the fire. After the fire is put out, then a fire damage professional can come in and start removing smoke and odor from the damaged area.

Most people think that they aren't in danger from a fire unless they actually see flames. However, that is not always true. Smoke can be hazardous to a person's health as well as cause significant damage to a home if it is not taken care of. After either a major or minor fire event, it is a good idea to get in touch with a Cincinnati fire damage professional. If allowed to remain on surfaces in the home, smoke can eat away at counters, carpets or other materials.

Before a fire starts, a home or a part of a home may fill up with smoke. Smoke is what occurs when a fuel source doesn't fully burn or ignite. This could be because there is a lack of oxygen in the room or the material smoke is rising is not very flammable. However, smoke can release synthetic odors as well as natural and organic odors.

The EPA has specifically tested wood surfaces to determine what is in the smoke it releases. It found that there can be sulfur dioxide, acetic acid and carbon monoxide, among other dangerous materials.

A fire damage expert from Griffin Contracting and Restoration of Cincinnati OH would be happy to answer any question you have about tree removal or fire and smoke restoration.

Most people are aware of carbon monoxide and how dangerous it is, but what is less known is that it is colorless and odorless. Therefore, it could harm or even kill an individual before anyone notices it is in the air.

As dangerous as smoke can be when the fire is ongoing, it can wreak havoc for hours or days after the fire ends. Smoke can linger in the air, which could create harsh breathing conditions and cause a chronic cough or wheezing in those with asthma. The smell of smoke can also integrate itself into any exposed surface in the home, which means it could smell like someone smoked a full carton of cigarettes even after a minor smoke or fire event.

What physical damage does smoke do to a home? When it lands on a surface, it can coat that surface with soot and other chemicals. Those materials will lead to surfaces turning yellow, which may be hard or impossible to reverse after more than 24 to 36 hours.

Because smoke particles turn acidic as they cool, it may be possible for it to actually etch into a surface and require that it be completely replaced as opposed to merely cleaned or refurbished. Since smoke is generally driven vertically when a fire first begins, ceilings and other vertical columns may suffer the brunt of the damage.

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